Month: July 2017

The prince is here to make his plea. Every crow in town has heard it. With the lusty mob at the sidelines I have cried, “Hang him for his bad choices.” The courts allow it, the Church allows it and every Australian allows it. So let the show begin.

Both parties are entrenched for a long drawn battle for attrition. For, neither side will flinch away from an unsatisfying outcome at this stage. They are prepared to go to the top courts. Yet. When the battle is lost and won, what then? Will our confidence in our social structures and legal process be vindicated? Will the winning of the holy grail (the golden pound of flesh) satisfy those whose hopes have been amplified? In short, will we accept the umpire’s decision (s)? Can a verdict pave the way for meaningful rehabilitation? Will sullied reputations be restored by true contrition? Will we be big enough to absolve the villains of the piece with, “It was a good bit of copy while it lasted, mate”.

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Does the Church need to be reformed? Of course. It is natural. The whole of creation is constantly changing; evolving toward God’s predetermined omega point. So, why should not human structures and celebrations keep in touch with the emerging shifts in human consciousness and spirituality. Stagnation is the first sign of a diminishing relevance. This is manifest in the growing “enlightened secularism”, which grows when people, facing exciting world changes, cannot establish a successful religious co-relative. Truth is eternal: it is the movement of facts that confuses and confounds those perilously hanging on to childhood myths and Sunday School lessons.

For all the criticism, the Church is sensitive to the people’s need to establish a link with the Almighty, but, within the environment that is ruled by the new Baal. The attraction to his high alter, based on empiricism, is irresistible. The elite see themselves as being in control of their own destinies, based on scientific facts and technology. It relegates religion to irrelevance; its practice an opium of the masses. In the Sixties, through Vatican Council II, the Church sought to establish its ground for the Twentieth Century. With mixed reactions we have moved on. The Church of today feels foreign to many who developed their spirituality prior to VC II.

We argued our points of view. Some finding that the Church was going too far from its historical roots. Others felt that some were dragging their feet and not implementing change fast enough. The debate between “Traditionalists” and “Modernists” continues today. Dissent is good for the health of the Church and its survival in the Twenty-first century. But, there are emerging social challenges to dogma, the hierarchy, morality and socially accepted values. The faithful need guidance and reassurances. We are fortunate to have a broad-minded Holy Father, who empathizes with the faithful and leads the magisterium in the way of compassion. Grace of the Holy Spirit assures that which is to come is good.

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In you alone lord I find rest. I labour under guilt of my many sins and offences. Fears fill my heart of time gone bye. Enemies I did not seek, oppress and torment me. By day they harass me and bring to naught my efforts at being myself and your son. I seek only to do your will, yet evil prevails and turns my acts to dust. By night I toss in the mire of my imaginations. Demons seek to destroy me. In my agony I cry, “Lord. I am overburdened.”

One thought only sustains me – “Help me Jesus or I sink”. What is my Yoke, Lord, that I should complain? You took on your shoulders the burden of our sins. For our sins you suffered dearly and died a criminal’s death to save me. Who am I to complain? From you have I received great gifts and wonders. In your presence I have seen miracles and acts that would transform sinners. I am blessed not to deny your wonders. Because I believe you give me rest and lead me to still waters to refresh my soul. Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

How easy my burden Lord when I link it to your yoke. Teach me Lord to be meek and to accept all that comes as a blessing of your loving Father. Let me drink of my cup in sacred memory of the cup you so lovingly and happily drank. May my last words only be, “It is accomplished.” Then would I have completed the job for which I am created – to live in your joy and Happiness for ever.

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“Truth? What is Truth, said Jesting Pilate and would not wait for an answer.” (Francis Bacon is acknowledged). One sees Pilate’s dilemma: the elders of the Temple stated the truth as they saw it. Before him stood one who was truth itself (though unrecognised by Pilate). He, himself, did not know which side he was on. One thing was certain, it was that his master resided in Rome, and he would do all that was necessary to please him. That was form of truth to him.

In contemplation, one seeks union with the ultimate truth. In the emptiness of space and time one enters into dialogue with the superior being. The exchanges, not always verbal, come as intimations and spontaneousawakenings, confirming or denying one’s comprehension of unasked questions. In this the seeking has thoughts ratified by the One who is at once the centre of the universeand also the sum total of all truth. Faith provides conviction enough.

This is not enough for members living for and through othersin a social environment. Where, interdependence means more than the sharing of physical and social needs, a personal desire for self-worth makes the justification of abstract ideas and opinions compelling.Ratification by peers and respected groups generates satisfaction. To standardiseacceptability tools have been developed to empirically establish the truth of any proposition, theory or inherent material properties of anything. The truth about anything is established only when it registers on one or any of the senses – or the mechanical extensions of the same. This technological group can be as “fundamentalist”, as those on the Faith end of the spectrum. Both are necessary to complete the beauty and rainbow of human sensibilities, progress – evolution.